Although Cinco de Mayo is not widely celebrated in Mexico, the holiday has become a popular commemoration of Mexican culture and history in America for both Mexican-Americans and non-Mexican-Americans. If you are going to be celebrating this Cinco de Mayo, you should at least know a little bit of history behind the holiday. Many people wrongly assume that Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. However, the real reason that the holiday is celebrated is to honor Mexico?s 1862 triumph over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Now that you know a little bit about the history of Cinco de Mayo, here are 10 cigar and tequila pairings to include in your celebration. 1. Fortaleza Tequila and a Claro Wrapped Cigar: Fortaleza is the best type of tequila, according to Men?s Journal. Similarly, the most popular cigar wrap is the Claro wrap. It is no surprise that the mildly flavored claro wrapped cigar pairs nicely with the silky smooth flavor of Fortaleza tequila. 2. Gran Patron Platinum Tequila and a Briarmont Classic Double Wrap Cigar: Gran Patron Platinum tequila is known for its smoothness despite its spicy finish. This balances the rich and robust flavor of a Briarmont Classic Double Wrap Cigar. 3. Tequila Silver – Blanco – Plata – White – Platinum and a Briarmont Classic Maduro: The sweet Agave finish of tequila silver – blanco – plata – white – platinum matches perfectly with the chocolatey flavor of a Briarmont Classic Maduro Cigar. 4. Kah Tequila and a Briarmont Classic Connecticut Cigar: The sweet caramel flavor of Kah Tequila will finish perfectly with the smoothness of a Briarmont Classic Connecticut Cigar. 5. Tequila A?ejo and a Briarmont Limited Cigar: The rich flavor of this aged tequila will offer a unique experience with the toasted sweet vanilla and dark cocoa bean taste of a Briarmont Limited Cigar. 6. Herradura Tequila and a Briarmont Reserve Habano Cigar: The smooth vanilla and butterscotch finish of Herradura Tequila matches the smooth and creamy flavor of a Briarmont Reserve Habano cigar. 7. Tequila Reposado and a Corojo Wrapped Cigar: The wooden flavor of tequila reposado goes perfectly with the mildly spicy flavor of a Corojo cigar wrap. 8. Casamigos Blanco Tequila and an Oscuro Wrapped Cigar: The clean flavor of Casamigos Blanco tequila balances the sweet and rich flavor of an Oscuro cigar. 9. Gold Tequila and a Candela Wrapped Cigar: The added sugar in most gold tequilas goes hand in hand with the lightly sweetened flavor of Candela cigars. 10. Tequila Extra A?ejo and a Customized Flavored Cigar: The complex aromas and flavors of tequila extra anejo calls for a customized flavored cigar. Custom Tobacco allows you to personalize the taste of your cigar from 8 different flavors.
Do you ever wonder about the taste of a Cigar? Being uninformed can have you spending too much money on one that you may not even like. Here’s a quick background: Cigars are mainly, but not solely, manufactured in South and Central America. A lot of the worlds leading brands and cigar types are from Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Each country’s cigar production has its own taste and character. Cigars are made all over the world, with tobacco grown in different soils, preserved by different processes, and rolled with different techniques. There are three major aspects that can affect a cigars flavor profile. The first is the type of tobacco seed that is planted. Some well-known seeds are Cuban, Connecticut, Cameroon, and Corojo. Each seed will produce a slightly different type of tobacco leaf with different flavors. The second aspect is the region the seed is grown. It will significantly affect the flavor of the cigar. This is due to differences in soil ? sandy, marshy, volcanic, rocky and so on. The last aspect is the cigars blend. The various types of tobaccos that make up a cigar work together to give the cigar its distinct flavors. The vast assortment of cigar types, from all different nations, gives the dedicated cigar lover a plethora of options to explore. A cigars flavor can range from nutty, cedar, oak, fruity, spicy, sweet, peppery, salty, harsh, earthy, woody, cocoa, the list could be infinite. The same cigar could vary in taste depending on the person. The ultimate judgment rests in the opinion of the smoker.
Put this in your mouth, and he?ll never leave you. Smoking cigars takes the whole ?wearing his favorite team?s jersey in a cute way? to?a new level of attraction. The difference being that football jerseys are worn on live television, while smoking?a cigar is a sultry, secretive deed done in a devilish environment. Therefore, by?associating yourself with his exclusive private life, you gain the air of a mistress ??without actually being a home wrecker. Also, smoking a cigar with him is the perfect cocktail of his two favorite things: A?rich, relaxing soothing activity combined with his favorite girl. It?s straight fantasy. Additionally, it reverts back to the ?Lady in the streets but a freak in the sheets??mantra: It?s the perfect balance of bad girl and nice girl and just the right amount of?rebellious. The sheer shock value of it will get his blood flowing for an unforgettable?night. And the best part is it has the same sexy hush-hush attraction as wearing lingerie??without the strings up your butt!?But just like wearing lingerie, you can fail miserably at making smoking a cigar sexy?? although it is a little harder to fail at doing so. (See Back to Basics: How to smoke a?cigar like a master).
The torpedo is roughly 6 1/8 inches in length, with a general ring size of around 52. A wider cigar with a smaller, tapered mouth, the torpedo is powerful yet comfortable for any level of cigar smoker.
Churchill
Named for the British Prime Minister who enjoyed smoking this 6 3/4 inch to 7 3/4 inch cigar, the Churchill is the perfect cigar for the patient cigar smoker. Smoking smoother and cooler than other cigars, the Churchill provides cigar enthusiasts with a chance to slow down and enjoy a long, quality smoke.
Toro
The toro is the perfect sized cigar for a long lasting yet enjoyable smoking experience. At 6 inches in length and with a ring size of 54, the Toro is a great smoke for any occasion.
Robusto
A robusto cigar ranges anywhere from 4 1/2 inches to 5 1/2 inches in length with a ring size in the range of 48-54. Shorter and wider by nature, robustos provide an excellent balance between size and flavor, and tend to smoke a little stronger than a longer Churchill.
Petit Corona
The smallest cigar we offer, the Petit Corona has a very direct and linear design. Often described as the perfect companion cigar, the Petit Corona slips right into your inside coat pocket and is a perfect break time smoke, lasting around 20-30 minutes.
Standard
Some Standard size description
Deluxe
Some Deluxe size description
Premium
Some Premium size description
Double Toro
Six inches in length and with our largest available ring size of 60, the double toro allows for a powerful yet long-lasting smoke. Take your time while smoking a cigar of this size in order to reduce the heat and strength of the smoking experience.
Esplendido
This big cigar is beautifully constructed and provides an incredible smoking experience. The Esplendido is a similar in size to the Churchill at 7 inches long and can be smoked for about an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half.
Presidente
Can’t get enough cigar? Then the Presidente is for you. This large and in charge cigar is exemplifies the word huge.
As the rom-comclassic “A Cinderella Story” with Hilary Duff taught us so eloquently, “Don’t let the fear of striking out stop you from playing the game.”Because then you could totally miss out on a make out session withChad Michael Murray – or another life changing experience.
Well, in many cases, the fear of striking out is so colossal that the sheer thought of stepping up to that plate gives us anxiety and makes us bite off the overpriced manicure we got last week.
And, as we all know, at least half of the courage it takes to try a new activity is mental. Whether it’s stepping into a new workout class, a new job, or a new social setting, the act of physically stepping into the room is more daunting than actually doing it.
However, if you know exactly what to do when you get into that room: how to do the first yoga pose, whose hand to shake, or just the fact that you feel good in your outfit, it can go a long way.
This only applies if you are smoking in front of an audience. If you are smoking for your own source of personal relaxation, which I highly recommend, you can look however silly or balleryou want.
(Full disclosure: When in the privacy of my own backyard, I smoke cigars in my underwear with an oversized bag of yogurt pretzels by my side. Moving on.)
The first step in gaining confidence is preparation.
1) Cutting It
Before you can light it, you have to cut off part of the cigar – but just the very tip. You basically have to circumcise your cigar before you can light it, and just like circumcision, precision is very important.
A hand-made cigar is held together at the top by the cap. Below the cap is the cigar shoulder. When cutting the cigar, you want to aim above the shoulder. If you accidently cut below the shoulder, there becomes risk of unraveling the wrapper of the cigar, because nothing is holding it together anymore, and this would be a major fail.
Picture your favorite underwear and the band that sits atop it, holding it snug to your waist. The top band is the cap, and the place where the two fabrics meet is the shoulder. You want to make damn sure to cut above the shoulder, because you don’t want your panties to unravel. Get the picture?
Find the point on the cigar where the cap comes over the shoulder, and make sure to cut above that line.
To cut your cigar properly, you must use a pair of cigar cutters. To do so, grab your cigar, and hold it horizontally. Then, bring your cigar cutter a few millimeters down the cigar – above the shoulder – and pull down on the cutters to make a nice, clean cut. Of course, there are different types of cutters to choose from when doing the deed.
Note: If you are smoking a cigar that has a more torpedo-like shape, you want to do the same thing as with a traditionally-shaped cigar, but cut off a quarter of an inch off the tip of the cigar instead of just minding the shoulder.
Types of Cutters:
Guillotine Cutter: You can use any derivative of this type to cut any size or shape cigar. So, when using the guillotine, act unlike they did in the French Revolution, and guillotine with care. Use the cutters in a strong, sturdy fashion when decapitating your cigar.
Bullet-Punch Cutter: These cutters punch a clean hole in the back of the cigar instead of removing the entire cap, limiting the amount of smoke that you can elicit. This is the smallest and most portable of the cutters: If you want to be prepared to smoke at any time, this is for you. However, this type of cutter cannot be used on all shapes like the guillotine can. Instead of clipping the cigar head off, you hold the cigar horizontally and press the device against the end of it, turning about a quarter turn, making a perfect little hole on the end.
Cigar Scissor: Like Guillotine cutters, they also decapitate your cigar. They look almost exactly like actual scissors and can range in size greatly; however, size does not matter in this case, because they all do the same thing. Also like the Guillotine, they don’t discriminate with whom they’re decapitating: You can use the scissors to cut any shape or size cigar. You use the scissors the same way as the Guillotine cutters by wrapping the cutter around the end of the cigar and cutting in a firm fashion. Sadly, the scissors tend to be a bit more expensive than guillotine cutters – and I’d prefer to spend my money on clothes rather than cutters, but to each his or her own!
V-Shaped Cutters: Similar to the Bullet-Punch, these guys cut a V-shaped hole in the back of your cigar, without removing the entire cap. They are more attractive than the bullet-punch cutters – although they both do the job –because they allow a little more draw from the cigar by cutting a bigger hole. V-shaped cutters are also great for small cigars. However, they are not something we can cheap out on: With the bargain V-cutters, their blade is likely not sharp enough to cut the cigar properly, leaving your cigar totally ruined. To use them, bring in your cigar horizontally, of course, and press the V-Cutter firmly on the end of it, and in a swift motion, pull down on the cutter, finishing the job.
After you make the cut, brush off any loose pieces of tobacco that may have been left behind when you made the cut, and you’re ready for step two!
2) Holding It
Grasping it is pretty simple: Whatever you do, don’t hold it like a cigarette. This will be a telltale sign that you are a newb. Just rest the cigar on your middle finger and then wrap your index finger around it, and there you go!
Then comes the question of removing the band. It takes you back to losing your virginity… Should I take off my shirt? Is he taking off his shirt? Will my shirt get in the way if I leave it on? Help!
Just like the shirt-on, shirt-off dilemma, it’s up to you. Whether to take off the band or not is a matter of personal preference. However, if you do want to take it off, smoke it a little bit first. This will allow the adhesive holding the band together to loosen slightly, making it easier to remove.
3) Lighting It
There are several options in sparking it up.
Wooden Matches: These are just regular old matches, which work just fine.
Cedar Matches: These smell a little better than wooden matches, and they also a little bit longer – giving you more time to light the cigar if you’re struggling.
Butane Lighter: Make sure you don’t use a gasoline lighter, because it could change and affect the taste of the actual cigar, which would suck.
Piece of Cedar: You can find this in the cigar box. It resembles a piece of cardboard placed between layers of cigars in a box, which you just break off a piece of, light the end of and use to light the cigar. Now this is perhaps the most advanced way to light the cigar, and I would probably practice this alone in my room with a fire extinguisher and non-flammable clothing on before you whip out this move in front of a crowd.
Whichever method makes you most comfortable will allow you to be most confident in a cigar smoking session, so choose your method based on comfort.
Additionally, before you light it, you should moisten the end of the cigar. You do this, because if your lips are dry, it can stick your mouth and unravel the wrapper, resulting in a big ol’ mess. To moisten it, put the uncut end in your mouth lightly and rotate it slightly, quickly and naturally.
Now, you are ready to spark up.
Make sure to rotate your cigar while you are lighting it in order to heat it up. Do this until you start seeing a red glow. When the cigar starts to ignite, then you can stop lighting it and bring it in your mouth. After that, bring the lighter or match to the cigar again, while it’s in your mouth, rotating the cigar. Then, puff lightly. BUT DO NOT INHALE. I REPEAT: DO NOT INHALE.
Remember when I threw up on that hot guy’s shoes? You do not want to be that girl, so DO NOTinhale.
Once it’s lit, take the cigar out of your mouth and make sure it is lit evenly. Be forewarned, when you are lighting it, it is going to flame; however, it will die out quickly, making you one step closer to smoking.
4) Smoking It
As I am reminding you again, the most important thing to remember is to not inhale the cigar. This is what will make you nauseous, sick and coughing all night. Ever smoked hookah? Smoke your cigar exactly like that by taking slow, leisurely puffs – and making damn sure not to inhale: Reminiscent of prom night, you’ll be full of regret.
Additionally, take your time when puffing the cigar. Do not rush it: It should take about a full episode of Orange Is the New Black to smoke your cigar properly (a.k.a. give or take 55 minutes).
Unlike what every rapper’s telling you to do, don’t shake your ash: It’s bad form. The better the cigar is made, the longer the ash, so you don’t want to shake the cigar prematurely to make the ash fall, like with a cigarette. But if the ash buildup is too long, you gotta shake ya ash. If you leave it sitting too long, the light’s going to go out.
If it does go out, remain calm. You just lean the cigar on the end of the ashtray and rotate it steadily, allowing the ash to fall off in one big clump. Once you’ve removedthe ash from your cigar, just relight it exactly how you did before, and you’re back in business.
Continue puffing the cigar until there are about two inches left: This is when it will start to leave an aftertaste in your mouth, a telltale sign your smoking session is over.
Now you need to put it out. You don’t put it out like a cigarette: Just let it go out by itself by sitting it inside the ashtray and allowing it to do its thing.
The torpedo is roughly 6 1/8 inches in length, with a general ring size of around 52. A wider cigar with a smaller, tapered mouth, the torpedo is powerful yet comfortable for any level of cigar smoker.
Churchill
Named for the British Prime Minister who enjoyed smoking this 6 3/4 inch to 7 3/4 inch cigar, the Churchill is the perfect cigar for the patient cigar smoker. Smoking smoother and cooler than other cigars, the Churchill provides cigar enthusiasts with a chance to slow down and enjoy a long, quality smoke.
Toro
The toro is the perfect sized cigar for a long lasting yet enjoyable smoking experience. At 6 inches in length and with a ring size of 54, the Toro is a great smoke for any occasion.
Robusto
A robusto cigar ranges anywhere from 4 1/2 inches to 5 1/2 inches in length with a ring size in the range of 48-54. Shorter and wider by nature, robustos provide an excellent balance between size and flavor, and tend to smoke a little stronger than a longer Churchill.
Petit Corona
The smallest cigar we offer, the Petit Corona has a very direct and linear design. Often described as the perfect companion cigar, the Petit Corona slips right into your inside coat pocket and is a perfect break time smoke, lasting around 20-30 minutes.
Standard
Some Standard size description
Deluxe
Some Deluxe size description
Premium
Some Premium size description
Double Toro
Six inches in length and with our largest available ring size of 60, the double toro allows for a powerful yet long-lasting smoke. Take your time while smoking a cigar of this size in order to reduce the heat and strength of the smoking experience.
Esplendido
This big cigar is beautifully constructed and provides an incredible smoking experience. The Esplendido is a similar in size to the Churchill at 7 inches long and can be smoked for about an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half.
Presidente
Can’t get enough cigar? Then the Presidente is for you. This large and in charge cigar is exemplifies the word huge.
Described by many as “the best Cuban cigar not to be made in Cuba,” the Briarmont Reserve packs an amazing amount of flavor, complexity and kick into a cigar that manages to remain extremely smooth and creamy. Resembling the flavor profile of a Cuban Partagas, the Briarmont Reserve is a one-of-a-kind smoke designed by connoisseurs for connoisseurs.
The torpedo is roughly 6 1/8 inches in length, with a general ring size of around 52. A wider cigar with a smaller, tapered mouth, the torpedo is powerful yet comfortable for any level of cigar smoker.
Churchill
Named for the British Prime Minister who enjoyed smoking this 6 3/4 inch to 7 3/4 inch cigar, the Churchill is the perfect cigar for the patient cigar smoker. Smoking smoother and cooler than other cigars, the Churchill provides cigar enthusiasts with a chance to slow down and enjoy a long, quality smoke.
Toro
The toro is the perfect sized cigar for a long lasting yet enjoyable smoking experience. At 6 inches in length and with a ring size of 54, the Toro is a great smoke for any occasion.
Robusto
A robusto cigar ranges anywhere from 4 1/2 inches to 5 1/2 inches in length with a ring size in the range of 48-54. Shorter and wider by nature, robustos provide an excellent balance between size and flavor, and tend to smoke a little stronger than a longer Churchill.
Petit Corona
The smallest cigar we offer, the Petit Corona has a very direct and linear design. Often described as the perfect companion cigar, the Petit Corona slips right into your inside coat pocket and is a perfect break time smoke, lasting around 20-30 minutes.
Standard
Some Standard size description
Deluxe
Some Deluxe size description
Premium
Some Premium size description
Double Toro
Six inches in length and with our largest available ring size of 60, the double toro allows for a powerful yet long-lasting smoke. Take your time while smoking a cigar of this size in order to reduce the heat and strength of the smoking experience.
Esplendido
This big cigar is beautifully constructed and provides an incredible smoking experience. The Esplendido is a similar in size to the Churchill at 7 inches long and can be smoked for about an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half.
Presidente
Can’t get enough cigar? Then the Presidente is for you. This large and in charge cigar is exemplifies the word huge.
The torpedo is roughly 6 1/8 inches in length, with a general ring size of around 52. A wider cigar with a smaller, tapered mouth, the torpedo is powerful yet comfortable for any level of cigar smoker.
Churchill
Named for the British Prime Minister who enjoyed smoking this 6 3/4 inch to 7 3/4 inch cigar, the Churchill is the perfect cigar for the patient cigar smoker. Smoking smoother and cooler than other cigars, the Churchill provides cigar enthusiasts with a chance to slow down and enjoy a long, quality smoke.
Toro
The toro is the perfect sized cigar for a long lasting yet enjoyable smoking experience. At 6 inches in length and with a ring size of 54, the Toro is a great smoke for any occasion.
Robusto
A robusto cigar ranges anywhere from 4 1/2 inches to 5 1/2 inches in length with a ring size in the range of 48-54. Shorter and wider by nature, robustos provide an excellent balance between size and flavor, and tend to smoke a little stronger than a longer Churchill.
Petit Corona
The smallest cigar we offer, the Petit Corona has a very direct and linear design. Often described as the perfect companion cigar, the Petit Corona slips right into your inside coat pocket and is a perfect break time smoke, lasting around 20-30 minutes.
Standard
Some Standard size description
Deluxe
Some Deluxe size description
Premium
Some Premium size description
Double Toro
Six inches in length and with our largest available ring size of 60, the double toro allows for a powerful yet long-lasting smoke. Take your time while smoking a cigar of this size in order to reduce the heat and strength of the smoking experience.
Esplendido
This big cigar is beautifully constructed and provides an incredible smoking experience. The Esplendido is a similar in size to the Churchill at 7 inches long and can be smoked for about an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half.
Presidente
Can’t get enough cigar? Then the Presidente is for you. This large and in charge cigar is exemplifies the word huge.
I brought about a dozen cigars from Custom Tobacco to an event and I wish i had brought more. Every person I gave a cigar too loved the flavor and the look of the cigars. I brought the double wrap cigars with me and the look is so unique, people were asking if I had extras so they could take them home and show them to their friends. The pricing on the cigars is very fair and the ability to customize them is awesome. I would recommend this company to anyone that has a bachelor party, baby shower, birthday, or any other event coming up where you need a novel gift idea that will leave a lasting impression.
I will definitely be ordering from these guys again!